DOI: 10.4103/bbrj.bbrj_129_26 ISSN: 2588-9834

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Cephalotaxus mannii in Vietnam Based on ITS-rDNA Sequences and Microsatellite Markers

Thi Tuyet Xuan Bui, Mai-Phuong Pham, Ngoc Huyen Dang, Quoc Khanh Nguyen, Plugatar Yuri Vladimirovich, Shevchuk Oksana Mikhailovna, Papelbu Vladimir Vladimirovich, Gerasimchuk Vladimir Nikolaevich, Sakhno Tatiana Mikhailovna, Smirnov Vasily Andreevich, Van Thang Bui, Dinh Duy Vu
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Abstract

Background:

Cephalotaxus mannii Hook. is a threatened conifer with fragmented natural populations in Vietnam, but its population genetic variation remains poorly understood. This study assessed the molecular identity, genetic diversity, differentiation, and population structure of Vietnamese C. mannii .

Methods:

A total of 209 individuals from six natural populations were analyzed. ITS-rDNA sequences were used for molecular identification and phylogenetic placement. Of 28 SSR loci screened, ten polymorphic loci were selected for population genetic analyses.

Results:

ITS-rDNA phylogenetic analysis clustered the Vietnamese samples with reference sequences of C. mannii in a well-supported clade (bootstrap = 96%), supporting species-level molecular identification. All ten SSR loci were polymorphic, with a mean polymorphism information content of 0.423. Mean observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.490) exceeded expected heterozygosity (He = 0.423), and the mean population Fis across the six populations was negative (−0.114). AMOVA attributed 89% of the genetic variation to within individuals and 11% to among populations, with significant population differentiation (Fst = 0.122, P < 0.001). PCoA revealed partial genetic structuring with substantial overlap among populations, while Bayesian clustering supported three major ancestry components ( K = 3) with extensive admixture.

Conclusions:

Vietnamese C. mannii maintains moderate genetic diversity despite significant population differentiation. The combination of genetic structuring and admixture indicates historical connectivity among populations and supports conserving multiple genetically representative populations for in situ and ex situ conservation.

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